Man on fire at National Mall in Washington DC

•October 4, 2013

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Vanessa Sink handout photo shows first responders and people assisting a man who apparently set himself on fire at the National Mall in Washington

First responders and people assist a man who apparently set himself on fire at the National Mall in Washington in this October 4, 2013 handout photo by Vanessa Sink. The man was rushed to a local hospital, officials said, and was conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital. REUTERS/Vanessa Sink/Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: CIVIL UNREST HEALTH SOCIETY)
ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. THIS PICTURE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY. AN UNPROCESSED VERSION WILL BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY

Police responded Friday to reports about a man on fire at the National Mall near the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, a D.C. Metropolitan Police spokeswoman told Yahoo News.

Police received a call at 4:24 p.m., and emergency personnel were dispatched to a man who had been on fire but was conscious and breathing, Metropolitan Police spokeswoman Saray Leon said. A medical helicopter arrived and evacuated the man a short time later. Whether the man set himself on fire or was attacked is unknown. (Yahoo News)